Pressure-reducing device.



T. H. MANCHESTER.

PRESSURE REDUCING DEVIOE.

APPLIOATION FILED APRIL 1911.

1,022,322. Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

lllll- COLUMBIA PLANOOIAPH C0,. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. MANCHESTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO CARHEATING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PRESSURE-REDUCING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Application filed April 1 1, 1911. Serial No. 620,328.

To all to 710m it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'lI-IoMAs H. MAN- (ums'rnn, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPressure-Reducing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a pressure reducing device of the type in whichthe main valve is operated by a piston acted upon by fluid pressurecontrolled by an auxiliary or controlling valve which is actuated by themovements of a diaphragm or like element also subjected to pressure; andone of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a pressurereducing device in which all of the movable parts are readily accessibleand are so arranged that, in the event the device works improperly, thetrouble may be easily and exactly located without danger to the personmaking the inspection.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pressure reducingdevice which is so constructed that the danger of the ports andpassageways becoming clogged with dirt and the like, is minimized.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device made up of afew simple parts which can be cheaply made and require but littlemachining and which may be assembled without difficulty.

A further object is to provide a pressure reducing device which shall bevery steady and accurate in its operation.

A, further object of the invention is to provide a construction in whichthe piston operating the main valve may be conveniently oiled.

The invention has for further objects such other constructions,arrangements and devices in pressure reducing valves, particularly inpressure reducing valves adapted to be used on steam'train pipes, aswill be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of thedevice taken on line 11 of. Fig. 2: Fig. 2, a seetional view 011 line2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional plan taken on lines ofFigs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4, a similar View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, andFig. 5 a view in elevation of the end of a locomotive boiler showing theapplication of my pressure reducing device to the train pipe leadingtherefrom.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the severalfiguresof the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a casing formed with the webs11 and 12, the latter dividing off a portion of the space within thecasing to form a chamber 13, the former dividing the remaining spacewithin the easing into a high pressure chamber 14 and a low pressurechamber 15. The upper part of the casing is in the form of a cylinder 16connnunicating with the low pressure chamber. In web 11, dividing thehigh and low pressure chambers, is a port 17 adapted to be closed by themain valve 18 having a stem 19 which projects into the low pressurechamber and supports a piston 20 snugly fitted into cylinder 16 andformed with a boss 21 extending around the end of the stem 19. Below themain valve the casing is formed with a threaded opening which is closedby the screw plug 22 or other suitable closure. The main valve is formedwith a depending sleeve 23 which is guided in plug 22. A spring 24 isinterposed between the under side of the main valve 18 and a conical pin25 seated in the plug 22. The casing above piston 20 is formed with ascrew threaded opening closed by a plug 26 preferably formed with thestop lug 26" or other suitable closure. The valve and piston structureconsisting of valve 18, sleeve 23, stem 19 and piston 20 is a substantially rigid structure, the stem 19 fitting closely into the boss 21and is guided at two points only, to-wit, by the engagement of thepiston with the cylinder and the engagement of the sleeve with the plug22. The usual web dividing the low pressure chamber from the cylinderwith its ports of relatively small size is eliminated. This does awaywith one source of clogging and simplifies the construction of the valvecasing. The valve is freer to move and less apt to be cramped as it hastwo bearings instead of the usual three. As no web or partitionintervenes between the low pressure chamber and the cylinder the inrnshof steam past the main valve tends to keep the walls of the cylinderfree from scale which eliminates another source of trouble. The chamber13 is arranged at the side of the mam valve 18 and It's piston 20, Thecasing at boss 31 formed on this disk and a conical pin 32 seatedagainst the inner surface of a screw cap 33 threaded on a stem 34.Formed on the bonnet 27 is a spiral spring 35. The screw cap 33 has ahand wheel 36. The adjustment of the screw cap varies the tension ofspring 35 and diaphragm 28.

The web 12, which divides off the chamber 13 has a horizontal portion 37formed with a port 38 controlled by a valve 39 which is located in thehigh pressure chamber and the stem of which 10 extends into a bore in aplug 41 threaded into the under side of the valve casing. A spring 42 isinterposed between the end of the plug and stem 10. Diaphragm 28 isprovided with a pin 43 which bears against the longer arm of the bellcrank lever 4A which is pivoted on a fork 45 formed on the valve casingwithin the chamber 13. The shorter arm of this bell crank lever bears onthe upper end of stem 46 of valve 39. A port 47 puts the intermediatechamber 13 in communication with the interior of the cylinder 16 abovepiston 20. The chamber 13 is in fact an rib or boss 49 on the interiorof the casing.

puts the low pressure chamber 15 in communication with the diaphragmchamber 50 formed by the diaphragm and the head 29.

Preferably the plug 26 located over piston 20 is provided with an oilcup 26 This takes care of oiling the piston which in the ordinary formof pressure reducing valve in which the diaphragm is placed above thepiston is a matter of some diiiiculty. The provision of plug 26 with anoil cup incidentally provides a port which might, under somecircumstances, be used as a vent for the piston cylinder. However I layno claim in the present application to the provision of my pressurereducing device with an oil cup and I particularly wish it to beunderstood that I do not herein lay claim to any means for providing thepiston cylinder with a vent as the provision of the part of the casingabove the piston with a port specifically intended to serve as a vent toreduce the pressure above the piston is claimed in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 677,961 filed February 16, 1912. It will beunderstood that the oil cup, which is shown diagrammatically, isnecessarily so constructed that when used as such no escape of steamfrom the cylinder is possible.

Fig. 5 shows the application of my reducing valve to a steam pipeleading from a locom tive boiler- 51 des gnates the b ile and 52, 53 thesections of pipe between which the reducing valve is placed. It will beseen that the adjusting hand wheel 36 is at the side of the valve andstands away from the pipes and boiler so as to be easily reached.

The device of my invention operates as follows: The main valve 18 isnormally kept closed by the pressure on the under side thereof and byspring 2 1. When the auxiliary valve 39 is unseated steam from the highpressure chamber passes through the intermediate chamber 15 and port 4L7to the part of cylinder 16 above piston 20. The area of piston 20 beinggreater than that of valve 18 the valve is opened to admit steam fromthe high pressure chamber into the low pressure chamber. Steam pressurefrom the low pressure chamber is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 50through the port 48, and, acting upon the diaphragm, forces it back fromthe head 29. This allows the auxiliary valve 39, which is pressedupwardly by its spring 42, to seat and shut ofi' pressure from the upperside of piston 20. The main valve 18 now closes. The operation of thepressure reducing device is adjusted by means of the screw cap 33, bymeans of which the pressure exerted by spring 35 upon the diaphragm andconse quently upon valve 39 may be varied.

It will be seen that the main valve, the piston 20 and the auxiliaryvalve 39 are readily accessible for purpose of repair or for the removalof such dirt, sediment and the like as will interfere with the properoperation of the device. Each of these three parts of the device islocated adjacent to a plug so that by the removal of the plug inquestion the part may be reached directly. It is not necessary to removethe valve casing from the pipe in which it is located in order to get atthese three parts of the device which are the ones most likely torequire attention. The device, moreover, is structurally very simple,theoperating parts being inclosed within the single integral casing 10 andthe bonnet 27.

The auxiliary valve and its seat are purposely located within the highpressure chamber so that they are subjected to the swirling andinrushing of the steam taking place when the main valve is opened. Thistends to keep this critical part of the apparatus free from sediment,dirt, etc., tending to clog the valve. The valve seat is on the underside of the web in which the port is formed and the valve in verticalposition. This minimizes the danger of clogging as there is no place fordirt, sediment and the like to lodge. There is no long passagewayleading to the valve, the valve being, as above explained, locatedimmediately in the high pressure chamber. The diaphragm is a ed at theside of the n rmediate ber 13 so that when the diaphragm is re moved,and also the head 29 which is under it, it is possible to observe theposition and operation of the auxiliary valve. If the main valve is heldopen by the clogging of the seat, or for any other cause, when it shouldbe closed, the trouble can be detected at once. It is also possible todetermine whether the fault is with the auxiliary valve or with the mainvalve and its piston, because if it is the latter which are notoperating properly there will be a leak around the piston and backthrough port 4L7. In pressure reducing valves now in use it is difficultif not impossible to accurately locate trouble as between the main andauxiliary valves. The diaphragm may be removed without danger as theleak of steam past the auxiliary valve or back through the port 47 willnot in any case be very considerable. It is very desirable to have apressure reducing valve in which defective operation can be accuratelylocated while the device is under high pressure steam because it is notpossible ordinarily to be sure that any trouble'is remedied without atest under steam at the normal high pressure and unless it is possibleto locate the difficulty with the device connected up with the steamconsiderable useless experimental work has to be gone through withbefore the exact cause of the defective operation is ascertained.

While I have described my invention as embodied in its preferred form itwill be understood that some changes might be made in the construct-ion,arrangements and devices employed without departure from my invention.Therefore I do not limit myself to the precise particulars shown anddescribed except so far as the same are made specifically limitations oncertain of the claims herein.

I claim:

1. A pressure reducing device comprising in combination a casingconstructed so as to constitute a high pressure chamber, a low pressurechamber formed with a cylinder, a chamber intermediate the high pressurechamber and the cylinder which is open at the side, and ports betweenthe high and low pressure chambers, the high pressure and intermediatechambers and the intermediate chamber and the cylinder; a main valvecontrolling the port between the high and low pressure chambers: apiston to operate the valve in the cylinder; an auxiliary valvecontrolling the port between the high pressure chamber and theintermediate chamber; removable elements closing the open side of saidintermediate chamber and constituting together a diaphragm chamber whichis located at one side of the axial line of the main valve, means providing a port between the low pressure chamber and t e diaphragm cha r; ana d ephragm adapted to control said auxiliary valve.

2. A pressure reducing device comprising in combination a casingconstructed so as to constitute a high pressure chamber, a low pressurechamber formed with a cylinder, a chamber intermediate the high pressurechamber and the cylinder which is open at the side, and ports betweenthe high and low pressure chambers, the high pressure and intermediatechambers, and the intermediate chamber and cylinder; a main valvecontrolling the port between the high and low pressure chambers; apiston to operate the valve in the cylinder; an auxiliary valvecontrolling the port between the high pressure chamber and theintermediate chamber; removable elements closing the open side of saidintermediate chamber and constituting together a diaphragm chamber,means providing a port between the low pressure chamber and thediaphragm chamber; a diaphragm; a bell crank in said intermediatechamber interposed between said diaphragm and said auxiliary valve, anda removable plug in which said auxiliary valve is mounted.

3. A pressure reducing valve comprising in combination a casing formedon its upper side with a cylinder open at the top and with webs dividingthe easing into a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, and achamber intermediate the high pressure chamber and the cylinder which isopen at the side, said casing having an opening on the under side belowthe cylinder; plugs to close the upper end of the cylinder and saidopening in the casing, a head to close the open side of the intermediatechamber, a bonnet inclosing said head and forming therewith a diaphragmchamber which is located at one side of the axial line of the mainvalve, a diaphragm in the diaphragm chamber, a port in the web betweenthe high pressure chamber and the intermediate chamber, an auxiliaryvalve located in said high pressure chamber to control said port andformed with a stem, a plug in the casing in which the auxiliary valve ismounted, a. bell crank in the intern'iediate chamber interposed betweenthe diaphragm and said auxiliary valve, a port leading from theintermediate chamber to the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder formed onthe under side with a boss, a port in the web between the high and lowpressure chambers, a main valve to control said port formed on its underside with a stem adapted to fit into said boss and on its lower sidewith a sleeve which is slidable in the plug on the under side of saidcasing.

4-. In a pressure reducing device, the combination with a casing dividedso as to form a high pressure chamber. a low pressure chamber one abovethe other, and a third chamber at the side of the other two, of a mainvalve having reciprocating movement within the casing, a piston tooperate said valve, a diaphragm arranged at one side of the axis of themain valve, an auxiliary valve adapted to control the flow of fluid toone side of said piston, and a bell crank lever interposed in said thirdnamed chamber between said auxiliary valve and said diaphragm.

5. In a pressure reducing device, the com bination with a casing formedwith webs dividing said casing into a high pressure chamber, a lowpressure chamber and an auxiliary 'alve chamber, the web between thehigh pressure chamber and low pressure chamber being formed with a portand the casing formed so as to constitute a cylinder communicating withsaid low pressure chamber, of a main valve formed on its under side witha sleeve, a plug in the casing under said valve in which said sleeve isguided, a spring interposed between the plug and said valve, a stem onthe upper side of said valve, a piston in said cylinder having a boss bymeans of which it is mounted on said stem, a plug in the casing directlyabove said piston, said casing being formed with a port leading from thehigh pressure chamber to the auxiliary valve chamber and having a seatin the high pressure chamber, and a.

port from the latter to said cylinder, a valve in the high pressurechamber controlling the first named port, a plug in which said valve ismounted, a bonnet on the side of said casing and formed with a threadedstem, a diaphragm and a head interposed between said bonnet and saidcasing, a screw cap having a hand wheel on the threaded stem of thebonnet, a spring interposed between said cap and said diaphragm, a pinon the diaphragm, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted within saidauxiliary valve chamber and interposed between said pin and saidauxiliary valve, and a rib formed on the inner surface of said casingwith a bore which puts into communication with each other the lowpressure chamber and the space between said diaphragm and said head.

6. In a pressure reducing device, the combination with meansconstituting a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, a cylindercommunicating with the low pressure chamber, an intermediate chamber, aport between the high and low pressure chambers, a port leading from thehigh pres sure chamber to the intermediate chamber, and a port leadingfrom the intermediate chamber to the cylinder, said last named portsbeing of small cross sectional area relative to the cross sectional areaof the intermediate chamber; of a main valve having a piston located insaid cylinder, an auxiliary valve controlling the port leading.

from the high pressure chamber to the intermediate chamber, and meansfor cont-rolling the auxiliary valve in response to changes of pressurein the low pressure chamber; said intermediate chamber being constructedso that the interior of the same is accessible without disturbing saidauxiliary valve.

7. In a pressure reducing device, the combination with meansconstituting a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, a cylindercommunicating with the low pressure chamber, an intermediate chamber, aport between the high and low pressure chambers, a port leading from thehigh pressure chamber to the intermediate chamber, and a port leadingfrom the intermediate chamber to the cylinder, said last named portsbeing of small cross sectional area relative to the cross sectional areaof the intermediate chamber, of a main valve having a piston located insaid cylinder, a vertically arranged auxiliary valve in the highpressure chamber controlling the port leading from the high pressurechamber to the intermediate chamber; and means for controlling theauxiliary valve in response to changes of pressure in the low pressurechamber; said intermediate chamber being constructed so that theinterior of the same is accessible without disturbing said auxiliaryvalve.

8. In a pressure reducing device, the (30111- bination with meansconstituting a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, adiaphragm chamber communicating with the low pressure chamber, acylinder communicating with the low pressure chamber, an intermediatechamber, a port between the high and low pressure eham bers, a portleading from the high pressure chamber to the intermediate chamber, anda port leading from the intermediate chamber to the cylinder, said lastnamed ports being of small cross sectional area relative to the crosssectional area of the intermediate chamber, of a main valve having apiston located in said cylinder, an auxiliary valve controlling the portleading from the high pressure chamber to the intermediate chamber, adiaphragm in said diaphragm chamber, and a bell crank interposed betweenthe diaphragm and said auxiliary valve, said intermediate chamber beingconstructed so that the interior of the same is accessible withoutdisturbing said auxiliary valve. 7

9. In a pressure reducing device, the combination with meansconstituting a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, a cylindercommunicating with the low pressure chamber, an intermediate chamber atthe side of said high and low pressure chambers, a diaphragm chamberarranged at the side of said intermediate chamber, a,

port between the high and low pressure chambers, a port leading from thehigh pressure chamber to the intermediate chamher, and a port leadingfrom the interme diate chamber to the cylinder, said last named portsbeing of small cross sectional area relative to the cross sectional areaof the intermediate chamber, of a main valve having a piston located insaid cylinder, an auxiliary valve controlling the port leading from thehigh pressure chamber to the intermediate chamber, a diaphragm in saiddiaphragm chamber, and a bell crank in said intermediate chamberinterposed be tween the diaphragm and said auxiliary valve; thediaphragm and associated parts being removable so as to expose theinterior of the intermediate chamber for the purpose specified.

10. In a pressure reducing device, the combination with a casing dividedso as to form a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, one abovethe other, and a third chamber at the side of the other two having aremovable cover whereby access may be had thereto, of a main valvehaving reciprocating movement within the casing, a piston to operatesaid Valve, a diaphragm arranged at one side of the axis of the mainvalve, an auxiliary valve adapted to control the flow of fluid to oneside of said piston, and means located in said third named chamber andinterposed between said aux- Copies of this patent may be obtained foriliary valve and said diaphragm for causing movements of the diaphragmto be transmitted to the auxiliary valve.

11. A pressure reducing device comprising in combination a casingconstructed so as to constitute a high pressure chamber, a low pressurechamber formed with a cylinder, a chamber intermediate the high pressurechamber and the cylinder which is open at the side, and ports betweenthe high and low pressure chambers, the high pres sure and intermediatechambers, and the in termediate chamber and cylinder; a main valvecontrolling the port between the high and low pressure chambers; apiston to operate the valve in the cylinder; an auxiliary valvecontrolling the port between the high pressure chamber and theintermediate chamber; removable elements closing the open side of saidintermediate chamber whereby access may be had thereto and constitutingtogether a diaphragm chamber which is located at one side of the axialline of the main valve; means providing a port between the low pressurechamber and said last mentioned chamber, and a pressureactuated elementin said last named cha1nber adapted to control said auxiliary valve.

THOMAS H. MANCHESTER.

Witnesses P. H. TRUMAN, L. A. FALKENBERG.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. G.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,022,322, grantedApril 2, 1912,

upon the application of Thomas H. Manchester, of Chicago, Illinois, foran improvement in Pressure-Reducing Devices, errors appear in theprinted specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 78,for the reference-numeral 15 read 13; page 4;, lines 15, 30, and 43, forthe Words auxiliary valve read intermediate, and that the said LettersPatent should be read with these correc tions therein that the same mayconform to the record of the casein the Patent Qfiice.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of May, A. D., 1912.

[warm] 0. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

